MEDIA JUSTICE TOOLKIT

It's not just Entertainment!

Despite popular belief, mainstream pop culture is not just mindless, harmless entertainment. On the contrary, the books, television shows and Hollywood films targeted towards our communities have a profound impact on our attempts to promote social justice.

This is particularly true for women of color who are often absent, in power making roles in corporate media. They are constantly exploited, stereotyped and frequently misrepresented in the media.

1. What message does a film like Miss Congeniality gives its audience about race and beauty?
2. How does a film like Hustle and Flow promote Cinderella in black face?
3. How does the film Monsters Ball attempt to promote the message "love transcends hate" and at whose expense?

These are some of the questions that Chica Luna is exploring as it develops our Popular Media Justice Toolkit

What the toolkit will consist off:

>> Toolkit will be in both English and Spanish it will include pedagogy, methodology and strategies utilized for each training module;

>> A companion DVD/VHS of media clips used in the curriculum.

>> Discussion guides for each of the select media utilized in the toolkit.

>> A tip sheets for basic facilitation techniques including icebreakers, closings, etc;

>> A media primer with relevant and timely essays, articles, transcripts, etc.;

>> A "media report card" for how to read a variety of popular media including narrative film, music video and radio program, etc. for socio-political content;

>> An annotated and cross-indexed filmography of progressive popular media that can be used for current and future participants and trainings;

Call for collaboration:

Does this interest you or your organization, do you have ideas for films that we could consider. Do you want to start a discussion around your own film?

Please Sofia Quintero at mediajustice@chicaluna.com.